Chiselling for soils with hard pan: Chisel the soils having hard pan formation at shallow depths with chisel plough at 0.5 M interval, first in one direction and then in the direction perpendicular to the previous one, once in three years. Apply 12.5 t farm yard manure or composted coir pith/ha besides chiselling to get increased yield

iii)

If intercropping of Greengram/Soybean is proposed, prepare the main field, so as to provide ridges and furrows to take up sowing 20 days prior to cotton sowing.

2. APPLICATION OF FYM OR COMPOST

Spread 12.5 t of FYM or compost or 2.5 t of vermicompost per ha if available, uniformly on the unploughed soil.

I. SEED RATEAdopt the following seed rates for different varieties/hybrids

Varieties / Hybrids

Quantity of seed (Kg/ha)

With fuzz

Delinted

Naked

MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 7, MCU 12, MCU 13

15.00

7.50

..

SVPR 2

15.00

..

..

KC 2

20.00

15.00

..

SUVIN

..

..

6.00

TCHB 213

2.5

2.0

..

2. SPACING
In a pure crop of cotton, adopt the spacing as below for the different varieties.

Varieties / hybrids

Spacing ( cm)

Between rows

Between plants

MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 12, MCU 13 LRA 5166, SVPR 2

75

30

KC 2

45

15

SUVIN

90

45

TCHB 213

120

60

MCU 7, SVPR 3

60 or 75 *

30

* Fertile soils

If cotton intercropped with other crops, one paired row of cotton is alternated with three rows of intercrop and the total population of cotton crop is maintained at the same level as in the case of pure crop.

For intercropping with Greengram / Soybean, complete the sowing and irrigation 20 days prior to cotton sowing on one side of the ridge.

Varieties/hybrid

Spacing for cotton crop ( cm)

Within
Paired row

Between Paired rows

Between plants

MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 12,MCU13

60

90

30

SUVIN

80

100

45

TCHB 213

100

140

60

Plant two rows of intercrop between each paired row of cotton

Intercrop

Seed rate(kg/ha)

Spacing (cm)

Rows

Plants

Blackgram

12.5

30

10

Greengram

12.5

30

10

Cowpea

7.5

30

20

Soybean

20.0

30

10

For higher returns, advance sowing of either greengram or soyabean 20 days before sowing of cotton in winter season.

Cotton intercropped with soybean
Source: www.cicr.nic.in

Cotton + Blackgram intercropping

Cotton + greengram intercropping

3. ACID-DELINTING OF COTTON SEEDS

Choose plastic bucket bucket for acid delinting of seeds.

Do not use earthen wares, metal vessels, porcelain wares or wooden drum for acid delinting as concentrated sulphuric acid will corrode them.

Put the required quantity of seeds in the container and add commercial concentrated sulphuric acid at the rate of 100 ml per kg of fuzzy seed.

Stir vigorously and continuously with a wooden stick for 2 to 3 minutes till the fuzz sticking to the seeds is completely digested and the seed coat attains a dark brown colour of coffee powder.

Add water to fill the container. Drain the acid water and repeat the washing 4 or 5 times to remove any trace of acid.

Remove the floating, ill-filled and damaged seeds while retaining the healthy and good seeds which remain at the bottom.

Drain the water completely and dry the delinted seeds in shade.

NOTE: Acid delinting has the following advantages:

Eliminates some externally seed borne pathogenic organisms.

Kills eggs, larvae and pupae of pink boll worm.

Helps to remove immature, ill-filled, cut and damaged seeds.

Makes seed dressing more effective and easy

Facilitates easy sowing and good germination.

4A. PRE-TREATMENT OF ACID DELINTED SEEDS WITH FUNGICIDES

Treat the delinted seeds with talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4g/kg of seed or with Carbendazim (or) Thiram @ 2g/kg of seed. Biocontrol agents are compatible with biofertilizers.
First treat the seeds with biocontrol agents and then with biofertilizers.
Fungicides and biocontrol agents are incompatible.

Dibble the seeds at a depth of 3-5 cm on the side of the ridge 2/3 height from the top and above the band where fertilisers and insecticides are applied, maintaining the correct spacing and then cover seeds with soil. In the case of intercropping, sow the seeds of the intercrop in between the paired rows of cotton in a row of 5 cm apart and cover the seeds.

Apply Pendimethalin @ 3.3 l/ha three days after sowing, using a hand operated sprayer fitted with deflecting or fan type nozzle. Sufficient moisture should be present in the soil at the time of herbicide application. This will ensure weed free condition upto 40 days.

Fill the polythene bags with a mixture of FYM and soil in the ratio of 1:3.

Dibble one seed per bag on the same day when sowing is taken up in the field.

Pot water and maintain.

On the 10th day of sowing, plant seedlings maintained in the polythene bags, one in each of the gaps in the field by cutting open the polythene bag and planting the seedling along with the soil intact and then pot water.

b. In the case of all other varieties, dibble 3 to 4 seeds in each gap and pot water.

8. THINNING

Thin out the seedlings on the 15th day of sowing. In the case of fertile soils, allow only one seedling per hole, whereas in poor soil allow two seedlings per hole.

9. TOP DRESSING

Top dress 50% of the recommended dose of N and K on 40 – 45 DAS for varieties.

Top dress 1/3rd of recommended dose of N on 40-45 DAS and the remaining 1/3rd on 60-65th DAS for hybrids.

10. RECTIFICATION OF RIDGES AND FURROWS

Reform the ridges and furrows after first top dressing in such a way that the plants are on the top of the ridges and well supported by soil.

11. SPRAYING OF NAPTHALENE ACETIC ACID (NAA)

Spray 40 ppm NAA at 60 and 90 days after sowing on the crop to prevent early shedding of buds and squares and to increase the yield.NOTE: 40 mg of NAA dissolved in one litre of water will give 40 ppm.

12. MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR DELAYED UMMER IRRIGATED COTTON SOWING

Nip the terminal portion of the main stem as indicated below:
For varieties having less than 160 days duration nip the terminal portion of the main stem beyond the 15th node (75 to 80 DAS) and for varieties and hybrids having more than 160 days duration beyond the 20th node (85 - 90 DAS).

III. WATER MANAGEMENT

Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phases of the crop.

Stages

No. ofIrrigations

Days after dibbling seeds

Light soil

Heavy soil

Germination Phase(1-15 days)

Irrigate for germination and establishment

1

Immediately after sowing

Immediately after sowing

2

Give a life irrigation on 5th day of sowing to facilitate the seedlings to emerge out

Give a life irrigation on 5th day of sowing to facilitate the seedlings to emerge out

Vegetative phase (16-44 days)

Regulate

1

Irrigate on the 20th or 21st day of sowing, three days after hoeing and Weeding

Irrigate on the 20th or 21st day of sowing, three days afterhoeing and weeding

2

Irrigate again on the 35th or 36th day of sowing

Irrigate again on the 40th day ofSowing

Flowering phase (45-100days for hybrids and 87 days for varieties)

Irrigate copiously

1

48th day

55th day

2

60th day

70th day

3

72nd day

85th day

4

84th day

100th day

5

96th day

**

** For TCHB 213
and Suvin only .

Maturity phase
(beyond 100 days for hybrids and 88 days for varieties)

For all varieties other than Suvin, and TCHB 213

Control irrigation during maturity phase

1

108th day

115th day

2

120th day

130th day

3

130th day

4

144th day

Stop Irrigation after 150th day

For Suvin, TCHB213

1

108th day

115th day

2

120th day

130th day

3

132nd day

145th day

4

144th day

160th day

5

158th day

...

Stop irrigation after 160th day

NOTE:

If irrigation is given on climatological approach, Schedule the irrigation at 0.40 and 0.60 IW/CPE ratio during vegetative and reproductive phases respectively.

The irrigation schedule given above is only a guideline and regulate the irrigationdepending upon the prevailing weather condition and receipt of rains.